Intelligent utilization of resources in mobile devices

ABSTRACT

A programmable intelligent activation module to intelligently allow access to GPS resources is provided. In accordance with pre-programmed settings, an intelligent activation module will control the frequency by which a GPS module is allowed to access a GPS or GSM network in order to acquire location information of a mobile device equipped with GPS equipment. By controlling access to a GPS or GSM network, network resources such as bandwidth are conserved unless actually needed as is determined by the intelligent activation module. Similarly, battery resources for the mobile device are also conserved in that unnecessary activation of the GPS module is prevented until such activation is actually needed. The intelligent activation module can be programmed with a variety of settings including speed, map deltas, final destination information, or settings as pre-determined by a user of the mobile device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.12/430,548, filed Apr. 27, 2009 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,724,187, which is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/343,513, filed Jan. 30,2006 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,538,722), which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 10/984,100 filed Nov. 8, 2004 (now U.S. Pat. No.7,026,984). The disclosures of these commonly owned applications arehereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to use of the Global Positioning System(GPS) and other location based resources in mobile devices such ascellular phones and handheld devices. More specifically, the presentinvention relates to intelligent utilization of GPS and location basedresources in a mobile device in order to preserve battery life of themobile device and minimize network bandwidth resources accessed by themobile device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Operation of the GPS

The GPS is a series of twenty-four space-based satellites transmittingsignals to a GPS receiver on the ground. Each GPS satellite transmitsdata that indicates that particular satellite's location and the currenttime. All GPS satellites synchronize operations so that these repeatedsignals are transmitted at the same instant as provided by atomic clocksat the U.S. Naval Observatory and an atomic clock on board each GPSsatellite.

Signals emitted by GPS satellites arrive at a GPS receiver at differenttimes because some GPS satellites are farther away than other GPSsatellites in relation to the GPS receiver; information relating to thelocation of each GPS satellite is included in GPS satellitetransmissions. The distance to a GPS satellite from a GPS receiver canbe determined by the time it takes for a GPS satellite signal to reach aGPS receiver. The GPS receiver can calculate its location in relation tothese GPS satellite transmissions through a process known astrilateration. Through trilateration, a GPS receiver measures thedistance from the GPS satellite using travel time of the GPS satellitesignals.

For example, the distance between a GPS receiver and a GPS satellitemight be 10,000 miles. The location of the receiver relative to theparticular GPS satellite is limited to a sphere with a radius of 10,000miles, the GPS satellite serving as the center point as shown in FIG.1A. The distance between the same GPS receiver and a second GPSsatellite might be 11,000 miles. As was the case with the first GPSsatellite, the location of the receiver relative to the second satelliteis limited to a sphere with a radius of 11,000, the second GPS satelliteserving as the center point as shown in FIG. 1B. Combining theinformation from these two GPS satellites relative to the GPS receiver,we can determine that the GPS receiver is located “somewhere” where thetwo spheres intersect. By obtaining a relative measurement from a thirdGPS satellite (e.g., 12,000 miles), the location of the GPS receiver isfurther narrowed to a point where the 10,000 miles and 11,000 milespheres intersect with the 12,000 mile sphere as shown in FIG. 1C.

Mobile Devices and the GPS

With the proliferation of mobile devices such as cellular phones—over150,000,000 cellular phones are presently in service—the mobile devicehandset has become increasingly functional beyond that of a meretelephonic device. Many cellular phones are now integrated with othermobile features such as a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), camera,instant messaging and electronic-mail. The Federal CommunicationsCommission, too, recognized this proliferation and the possible safetyadvantages of equipping mobile devices with GPS tracking under its E911mandate.

While a 911 emergency phone call placed from a land-line is associatedwith a phone number assigned to a physical address, a 911 emergencyphone call placed from a cellular phone can originate from the user'shome but also from, for example, the user's office, while on vacation,or even while stranded in a remote location. Sending an emergencyresponse team to the user's home address when the call was placed in oneof these latter locations fails to provide the necessary emergencyservices where needed but also distracts those services from otherpossible emergencies. GPS tracking solves this conundrum by associatinga phone number with actual physical location, In this regard, GPStechnology in cellular handsets and other mobile devices also offersadditional commercial advantages such as the user determining theirlocation or obtaining turn-by-turn directions to a particulardestination.

Receipt of GPS satellite signals is not a simple feat, however,especially for a mobile device with less power than a conventional GPSreceiver that is designed for—and only for—receipt of GPS signals.Mobile devices such as cellular phones are, obviously, phones first andforemost. Additional features such as electronic mail and GPSfunctionality require additional processing power in the mobile devicethat represents an additional strain on battery availability in additionto another strain on outside resources such as a GSM (Global System forMobile Communications) network that allows a user to connect to aproprietary cellular network via local base stations.

Representing a further strain on battery and network resources is thefact that GPS signals shift in frequency due to the relative motionbetween, for example, a handset GPS receiver and the constant motion ofGPS satellites. This Doppler frequency shift requires the GPS receiverto, first, find the frequency of the signal before the GPS receiver canlock onto the signal and make a determination of location. As such,prior knowledge of a GPS satellite's position and velocity data and theinitial handset receiver position can reduce the number of frequenciesto be searched because the GPS receiver directly computes the Dopplerfrequency shift instead of searching over a whole possible frequencyrange.

Many GPS equipped cellular phones are also equipped with technologyknown as the Assisted Global Positioning System (“A-GPS”), A-GPS uses acombination of GPS satellites and cellular phone base stations topinpoint location of the mobile device and its GPS receiver and to offera determination of location that is more accurate than GPS alone. Mobiledevice GPS receivers, in correlation with an estimate of the mobilehandset's location as determined by a cell-sector, can predict withgreater accuracy the GPS signal the handset will receive and send thatinformation to the mobile device handset. With this assistance, the sizeof the frequency search space is reduced and the time-to-first-fix(TTFF) of the signal is reduced from minutes to seconds. A-GPS handsetreceivers can also detect and demodulate signals that are weaker inmagnitude than those required by a traditional GPS receiver.

A-GPS requires precise timing information to perform satellite signalprocessing. A-GPS can utilize precise time from a synchronized network,which provides optimized TTFF and sensitivity, or derive it on either asynchronized or an asynchronous network from aiding data received froman assistance server. The assistance server communicates with the GPSreceiver via a wireless network link. The assistance server, generally,provides three types of data to the GPS receiver: GPS satellite orbitand clock information; initial position and time estimate; and forA-GPS-only receivers, satellite selection, range, and range-rateinformation. The assistance server is also able to compute positionsolutions, leaving the GPS receiver with the sole job of collectingrange measurements. With assistance from the network, the receiver canoperate more quickly and efficiently than it would unassisted, because aset of tasks that it would normally handle is shared with the server.The architecture of conventional GPS receiver implementation compared tothat of an A-GPS implementation is reflected in FIGS. 2A and 2B,respectively.

A-GPS operates on any air interface network, synchronized or not,without requiring any costly equipment to derive time, and will operatewith enhanced efficiency and performance on precisely synchronizednetworks. The A-GPS architecture, in and of itself, helps increasecapabilities on the cellular phone with regard to battery conservation.Nevertheless, constantly querying the GSM Network and/or GPS satellitenetwork represents an ongoing drain on battery power in addition to astrain on requisite networks. Therefore, there is a need in the art fora GPS handset solution that incorporates A-GPS architecture with anintelligent system for making queries of location on an as-needed basis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1C illustrates an operation of three GPS satellites todetermine a position of a GPS receiver;

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate an operation of a traditional GPS receiverand a GPS engine operating in conjunction with an A-GPS assistanceserver;

FIGS. 3A and 3B show an exemplary GPS-equipped cellular telephone;

FIGS. 4A-4D shows use of the exemplary GPS-equipped cellular telephoneto provide turn-by-turn directions;

FIG. 5 illustrates a GPS module and intelligent activation module of thepresent invention as it would interact with an antenna module, accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 6A and 6B reflect an exemplary intelligent utilization of GPSresources as they pertain to final destination information;

FIG. 7 reflects an exemplary intelligent utilization of GPS resourcesutilizing deltas and map information;

FIG. 8. reflects an exemplary intelligent utilization of GPS resourcesutilizing predetermined settings;

FIGS. 9A and 9B reflect an exemplary intelligent utilization of GPSresources utilizing speed information; and

FIG. 10 illustrates an interaction between a GPS-equipped cellulartelephone, a base station, a switching station and a GPS satellite.

SUMMARY

The present invention advantageously provides a mobile device comprisinga GPS module and an intelligent activation module. The GPS modulecomprises a chip configured to receive location based information fromat least one network. Location based information can compriseGPS-information that may be provided by a GPS-network. The use of theterm ‘location based information throughout’ the specification is meantto be illustrative and is not to be interpreted as limiting the scope ofthe invention to only GPS-information. The intelligent activation moduleis configured to control the activation of the GPS module dependent uponat least one control setting. By intelligently activating the GPS moduleon an as-needed basis, resources such as network bandwidth and batterypower are conserved.

The present invention also provides a method for intelligently utilizingresources in a mobile device by determining when access to aGPS-information network is required as defined by final destinationinformation. According to this method, the intelligent activation modulewill allow the GPS module to access a GPS-information network when themobile device is within a defined ‘buffer’ zone from the finaldestination.

The present invention also provides a method for intelligently utilizingresources in a mobile device by determining when access to anA-GPS-information network is required as defined by changes in deltas asthey related to proximity to a final destination. Access toGPS-information prior to accessing the A-GPS network is limited toGPS-only network information.

The present invention also provides a method for intelligently utilizingresources in a mobile device by determining when access to aGPS-information network is required as defined by a pre-determined usersetting related to distance from the final destination. Upon arrivingwithin the predetermined distance from the final setting, the GPS modulewill regularly access a GPS-information network to obtain locationinformation and provide turn-by-turn directions. All GPS-informationqueries prior to providing turn-by-turn directions are limited to adetermination of location as related to distance from the finallocation.

The present invention also provides a method for intelligently utilizingresources in a mobile device by determining when access to aGPS-information network is required as defined by speed of the mobiledevice. If a mobile device is traveling over a certain speed, theintelligent activation module will make a determination thatturn-by-turn directions are not required and that information-intensivequeries to a GPS-information network should be limited. If the mobiledevice is traveling under a certain speed, the intelligent activationmodule will make a determination that turn-by-turn directions arerequired and that information-intensive queries to a GPS-informationnetwork should be more frequent. The present invention also recognizesqueries to a network (or lack thereof) dependent on the mobile devicetraveling at less than a particular speed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

FIG. 3A illustrates an exemplary GPS-equipped mobile device 300A. Asused herein, the word ‘exemplary’, is used expansively to refer toembodiments that serve as an illustration, specimen, model or pattern.The mobile device 300A comprises a mobile device housing 310 and antennaoutcropping 320A. The mobile device housing 310 is, generally, alightweight and impact resistant plastic or other contoured moldingdesigned for the ergonomic benefit of the user but also to protectnecessary cellular components inside the mobile device housing 310.These components, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, often include, for example,analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion chips 365, a digitalsignal processor 370, a microprocessor 375, various RF 380 and powercomponents 385, and internal antenna support 320B. The mobile device300B further comprises functional modules 390, which will be discussedin more detail in connection with FIG. 5. Depending on the particularmanufacturer of the mobile device 300, certain components might beabsent or integrated with other components.

The mobile device housing 310 is, generally, also constructed to allowfor the integration of a keypad 330 and display 340 as well as a speaker350 (for listening to a phone conversation) and microphone 360 (forengaging in a phone conversation). Many mobile devices 300A alsocomprise a battery port (not shown) for providing D/C power to a mobiledevice 300A. Various ports (not shown) may also be provided in themobile device housing 310 whereby a ‘hands-free’ car-piece andmicrophone can be connected to the mobile device 300A in addition to,for example, an A/C power cord for recharging the mobile device 300A.

Similar ports may be provided for connecting the mobile device 300A withthird-party devices designed to be complementary and compliant with themobile device 300A operating architecture. An example of a third-partydevice would be a flash memory card for storing, for example,photographs taken by a camera-phone. A port could also allow access toan automobile's on-board computer providing, for example, speed of theautomobile as will be described in greater detail in this disclosure.

The antenna outcropping 320A is, generally, utilized when a user makes acellular phone call. Referring now to FIG. 10, upon initiating the call,a signal is sent from the antenna outcropping 320A of a cellular device1010 to a base station antenna 1020. The base station 1020, in turn,assigns an available RF channel upon which voice information istransferred to the base station 1020. These voice signals are then sentto a switching station 1030 which transfers the call to its destination1040. In some embodiments, the antenna outcropping 320A is not necessarydue to the power of the RF components housed inside the mobile devicehousing 310. In some embodiments, like those utilizing GPS and receivinginformation from a GPS satellite 1050, an antenna outcropping 320A mightbe preferred to increase the transmission and receipt strength ofvarious signals related to GPS or A-GPS.

FIG. 4 reflects an exemplary use of the GPS-equipped mobile device 300Ato provide turn-by-turn directions to a user. In FIG. 4A, for example,the display 340A reflects the present position 410A of the user inaddition to a desired destination 420 of the user. The display 340A alsoreflects the present necessary direction (north) of travel 430A as wellas the distance 440A (e.g., 0.4 miles) the user should travel in thatparticular direction. FIG. 4B reflects a next ‘segment’ of travel forthe user to arrive at their desired destination 420, the user havingcompleted traveling 0.4 miles in a northern direction as reflected inFIG. 4A.

As evidenced in FIG. 4B, the user's present position 410B has changedsince the user traversed a distance and direction reflected in FIG. 4A.Additionally, the user will be required to change their direction oftravel 430B, in this case, a right hand turn to the east in 0.9 miles asreflected by distance 440B.

FIG. 4C reflects a next ‘segment’ of travel, the user having traversedthe direction and distance reflected in FIG. 4B. In this example, now ata new location 410C, the user is required to make another right handturn to the east in 0.2 miles as reflected by direction 430C anddistance 440C. FIG. 4D continues the turn-by-turn direction examplewhereby the user now makes their final turn to their desired destination420.

A desired destination 420 can be provided through a variety of means.For example, a user may manually enter the desired destination 420 intothe mobile device 300A through the use of the keypad 330A (FIG. 3A) inresponse to a graphic user interface provided on the display 340A (FIG.3A) of the mobile device 300A by GPS or directional software installedon the mobile device 300A. This software can be ‘downloaded’ to themobile device 300A or can be ‘pre-installed’ when a user purchases themobile device 300A.

Alternatively, the user can provide the desired destination 420 to themobile device 300A in response to voice prompts from the speaker 350A(FIG. 3A). In response to these prompts, the user can vocally provideinformation through the microphone 360A whereby voice-recognitionsoftware analyzes utterances provided by the user to determine thedesired destination 420. The information provided by the user isanalyzed by voice-recognition software, which may be installed on themobile device 300A or at a remote server housed at, for example, a basestation, and may be subsequently confirmed by the user through promptson the display 340A and responses on the keypad 330A or through promptsby the speaker 350A and responses through the microphone 360A (FIG. 3A).Input related to the desired destination 420 initially provided via thekeypad 330A can be confirmed in a similar manner.

The desired destination 420 can also be provided from a remote location(not shown) such as a computer terminal whereby a user provides thenecessary information to a user interface hosted by a particularcellular carrier. This information is, in turn, delivered to the mobiledevice 300A via a wireless transmission. Such a means of providing thedesired destination 420 allows for ease of use as the mobile devicekeypad 330A or microphone 360A may prove cumbersome in providing certaininformation. A particular starting point (e.g., a present position 410A)can also be provided in any of these methods (e.g., keypad, voice,computer terminal) if the user knows they will be initiating a journeyat a later point in time or location.

FIG. 5 illustrates the exemplary relationship between a GPS module 510,an intelligent activation module 520, and antenna module 530 of thefunctional modules 390. The terminology ‘GPS module’ does notnecessarily refer to a GPS-only module. References to a GPS module mayalso include any other type of location determination software, hardwareor a combination of the two. The GPS module 510 comprises, at least, achip for detecting location (e.g., GPS) signals. The GPS module 510 mayalso comprise additional hardware, software, or a combination of the two(e.g., software embedded in an ASIC chip) necessary to integrate thechip with the operational architecture of the mobile device 300A (FIG.3A). Chips configured to detect location (e.g., GPS) signals can detectsignals as low as approximately 153 dBm and have a TTFF around 5 secondswith A-GPS and approximately 35 seconds without any network assistance.These chips may have a footprint of approximately 7 square mm. The exactsize, signal detection, and TTFF specifications of the chip areimmaterial to the scope of the present invention. Any available chip maybe utilized within the GPS module 510 of the present invention so longas it is capable of being integrated with the architecture of the mobiledevice 300A.

The exact locale of the GPS module 510 is equally immaterial so long asit is located within or coupled to the mobile device housing 310 as tomake it an integrated part of the mobile device 300A.

The exemplary GPS module 510 processes received location basedinformation, be it directly from a GPS satellite or in conjunction withA-GPS, in order to make necessary determinations of location. The GPSmodule 510 will also interact with various elements of the mobile device300A such as the speaker 350A (FIG. 3A) and/or display 340A (FIG. 3A) inorder to provide turn-by-turn directions as described in FIG. 4 visuallyand/or audibly. The GPS module 510, in this regard, also comprises thenecessary hardware and/or software to convert GPS signals andinformation into comprehensible information for the user. The GPS module510 also utilizes information related to a desired destination 420 inorder to generate and provide the aforementioned turn-by-turndirections.

The antenna module 530 is, in some embodiments of the present invention,an integrated part of the physical antenna outcropping 320A (FIG. 3A) asreflected in mobile device 300A. Dependent upon the particulararchitecture of the mobile device 300A and the chip utilized in the GPSmodule 510, the antenna module 530 can also be an integrated part of thechip whereby the antenna module 530 and GPS module 510 are integratedinto one module. In embodiments with an actual antenna outcropping 320A,the antenna module 530 comprises software for processing signalsreceived and transmitted by the antenna outcropping 320A. The antennaoutcropping 320A is often comprised of a conical housing andUV-resistant material with a tubular mounting designed forweatherproofing so that the antenna outcropping 320A can withstandvarious weather environments (e.g., rain or snow). GPS signals arereceived by the antenna module 530 and, in some embodiments, amplifiedand relayed to the GPS module 510 for processing. Some embodiments ofthe present invention might also comprise a timing module 540 to furtherenhance received GPS signals and improve determination and reliabilityof location by the chip embedded in the GPS module 510. Morespecifically, the timing module 540 can readjust, reset, and compensatefor any timing errors in a GPS and/or GSM network.

The exemplary intelligent activation module 520 works in conjunctionwith the GPS module 510 in order to intelligently utilize various GPSresources such as battery power and network bandwidth. The intelligentactivation module 520 can be configured with any variety of settingswhereby the module 520 will only activate the GPS module 510, or allowfor the activation of the GPS module 510, to make a processing heavyinquiry of a GSM and/or GPS network as is absolutely necessary. Suchsettings include a ‘final destination setting,’ a ‘delta setting,’ a‘predetermined setting,’ and a ‘speed information setting,’ each ofwhich are described in greater detail below. Limiting the frequency withwhich the GPS module 510 accesses a relevant network will result in lessstrain on the network thereby allowing for increased quality of servicefor other users in addition to less drain on the battery or other powercomponent 385 (FIG. 3B) of the mobile device 300B.

Some of these settings, such as one utilizing speed information, willrequire periodic activation of the GPS module 510 to acquire informationrelated to distance traveled since a prior query so that the intelligentactivation module 520 can deduce the speed of the mobile device 300A(e.g., distance/time=speed). Other settings, such as a predeterminedsetting, will only allow for activation of the GPS module 510 at aparticular time (e.g., every 30 minutes) or following a particular event(e.g., following the conclusion of a telephone call).

The intelligent activation module 520 comprises the necessary hardware,software, and/or combinations to allow implementation of the varioussetting described in detail below. These settings can be hardwired intothe intelligent activation module 520 as would be the case with an ASICor be user-determined through pre- or as-needed installation, deletion,or optional utilization by the user. In addition, various algorithms areembodied in the intelligent activation module 520 to make necessarycalculations, such as speed of the mobile device 300A based on theprovision of elapsed time and distance traveled as provided by variouscomponents of the mobile device 300A including, but not limited to, theGPS module 510. Additionally, the intelligent activation module 520comprises the necessary hardware, software, and/or combination tointegrate and interact with other necessary components of the mobiledevice 300A as well as being able to activate or, as is necessary,suppress the operation of GPS module 510 whereby resources (e.g.,battery power and network bandwidth) are conserved.

FIG. 6 reflects intelligent utilization of resources based on finaldestination information. FIG. 6A reflects an exemplary map wherein auser may begin their journey at Point A 610 and arrive at theirdestination, Point B 620. Between Point A and Point B are varioushighways, expressways, city streets, and neighborhood thoroughfares. Auser of a GPS-equipped mobile device 300 (FIG. 3) will have varyingfamiliarity with these segments of roadway and will require varyingdegrees of information as it pertains to turn-by-turn directions forreaching their ultimate destination.

The fact that a user may rely on turn-by-turn directions provided by aGPS-equipped mobile device 300 indicates certain unfamiliarity with theroute of their travels from Point A 610 to Point B 620. There is ageneral presumption, however, that a user of a mobile device 300A withGPS features will have a higher degree of familiarity with their pointof origin 610 with regard to utilizing the final destination setting inthe intelligent activation module 520 (FIG. 5). The presumptioncontinues that the user will have an increasing need for more detaileddirections (e.g., turn-by-turn directions) as they come closer to theirfinal destination 620. In that regard, a user can identify a certain‘buffer’ or radius 630 from their final destination in which detaileddirections (e.g., turn-by-turn) will be required. Alternatively, theintelligent activation module 520 can make a determination of the‘buffer’ radius dependent on the complexity of road, turns and so forth.Any location information provided prior to reaching that ‘buffer’ 630can be more generalized in terms of the number of a highway or name of astreet on which the user may be traveling in addition to being providedon a less frequent basis.

As more generalized and less frequent information is required outsidethe buffer 630, the user might be content with location informationprovided only by a GPS receiver in the mobile device 300A. Due toDoppler Shift and processing power of a mobile device 300A, acquiringlocation information solely though the mobile device's 300 GPS receiverwill be more time consuming (possibly a minute or more) and lessaccurate. This generalized information, however, will likely besufficient for extended highway driving or in areas of increasedfamiliarity. As such, outside the buffer region 630, the intelligentactivation module 520 can instruct the GPS module 510 (FIG. 5) toutilize only its GPS receiver and/or suppress utilization of availableA-GPS features.

Upon approaching their final destination 620 and, more specifically, the‘buffer’ region 630 around that final destination 620, the user willneed more rapidly provided and increasingly accurate information to maketurns on, for example, unfamiliar city and neighborhood streets. Thedelay and decreased accuracy of the GPS-only receiver on a mobile device300A will no longer suffice for this purpose. As such, upon arrival atthe buffer region 630, the intelligent activation module 520 instructsthe GPS module 510 to begin utilizing A-GPS features and to otherwiseterminate any suppression of such features that may have existed. Withthe GPS receiver operating in conjunction with A-GPS, the result isincreased accuracy of location information in addition to more rapidprovision of that information to the GPS module 510 that, in turn,provides detailed turn-by-turn directions to the user.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the ‘buffer’ region 630may only exist around the final destination 620. In other embodiments,there may be a plurality of ‘buffer’ regions 630. For example, if a useris on an extended journey from their home in California to New York tosee family, the user might wish to make a brief stop in Illinois to seefriends or other persons of interest.

As such, turn-by-turn directions will also be necessary in the Illinoisregion. An embodiment providing multiple ‘buffer’ regions 630 wouldallow for a ‘buffer’ region 630 around not only the final destination620 in N.Y. but also around certain intermediate destinations (e.g.,Chicago) where the user is requires detailed driving directions. Thebuffer region 630 may also be at a starting point 610 (e.g., details asto finding a freeway entrance).

FIG. 6B details an exemplary process for instructing the intelligentactivation module 520 (FIG. 5) to operate on a final destinationsetting, Through use of this setting, less network and battery resourcesare used prior to arriving at a final destination buffer 630 than willbe used after arriving at that buffer 630 when A-GPS resources areutilized that consume more network bandwidth and battery power. A user,utilizing the final destination method, will provide the intelligentactivation module 520 with information concerning point of origin anddestination in step 640. The user may also provide the intelligentactivation module 520 with information pertaining to the size of a finaldestination buffer 630 in optional step 650; that is, at what point willmore detailed turn-by-turn directions be required. As noted, alternativeembodiments allow the ‘buffer’ 630 to be determined by the intelligentactivation module 520.

After providing this information and initiating their journey, the GPSmodule 510 of the user's mobile device 300A will make periodic queriesof the GPS network to determine generalized location information in step660. If, after making a GPS network query, the intelligent activationmodule 520 recognizes the mobile device 300 to be within the finaldestination buffer 630, the intelligent activation module 520 willinstruct the GPS module 510 to begin utilizing available A-GPS resourcesto acquire and provide more accurate and more frequent locationinformation that will result in increased frequency and accuracy ofturn-by-turn instructions in step 680.

If, however, the intelligent activation module 520 determines that themobile device 300 is still outside the predetermined final destinationbuffer 630, the intelligent activation module 520 will continuesuppression of A-GPS resources and/or instruct the GPS module 510 tocontinue making queries solely on the GPS network and not in conjunctionwith any GSM of A-GPS features. Directions and location will, at thispoint, be provided based upon a GPS only determination in step 690. Theprocess will then continue with the GPS module making a query of the GPSnetwork (step 660) followed by a determination of whether the locationof the device falls within the predetermined buffer region 630 in step670.

FIG. 7 reflects an exemplary intelligent utilization of map resourcesutilizing deltas in map information. Utilizing the delta setting allowsthe GPS module 510 (FIG. 5) to continually query a GPS or GSM networkbut at varying periods of frequency. For example, when a user and theirmobile device 300 (FIG. 3) depart an initial location, there is apresumption of familiarity with their surroundings. As such, it is notnecessary for the user to have up-to-the-minute or real time directions.Updates in location via the GPS module 510 may be appropriate atintervals of, for example, 30 minutes to an hour. As the user getscloser to their destination, which is often an unfamiliar area, therewill be an increasing need for more up-to-date (real-time) turn-by-turndirections. For example, a user may now require directions at intervalsof anywhere from 1 minute to every few seconds.

The GPS module 510, in conjunction with the intelligent activationmodule 520, will recognize the mobile device coming in closer proximityof its final destination through deltas in map information. As the deltachanges (i.e., proximity to the final destination decreases or,alternatively, the proximity to the initial point of departureincreases) as recognized by the GPS module 510, the intelligentactivation module 520 will instruct the GPS module 510 to make morefrequent queries of the GPS or GSM network in order to obtain the mostup-to-date positional information.

For example, and as reflected in FIG. 7, a user will provide a point oforigin and a point of destination in step 710. As the user and theirGPS-equipped mobile device 300 (FIG. 3) begin traveling from their pointof origin to their desired destination, a delta will develop between theuser and both their point of origin and their point of destination;increasing and decreasing, respectively. Depending on whether theintelligent activation module 520 (FIG. 5) is programmed to focus on theincreasing or decreasing delta, which will result in identical albeitconversely resultant frequency of queries by the GPS module 510 (FIG.5), the GPS module 510 will begin to make queries of a GPS and/or GSMnetwork in step 720 as is appropriate.

These queries may initially be, for example, every 30 minutes as may bedetermined by the user or some other pre-setting (e.g., minimal deltasprovide for 1 hour queries whereas significant deltas provide for 30second queries). The intelligent activation module 520, using locationinformation provided by the GPS module 510, will calculate thedelta—change in location—relative to their point of origin or ultimatedestination in step 730.

As the delta continues to change (i.e., as the user further distancesthemselves from their point of origin and decreases the distance totheir final destination), the intelligent activation module 520 willinterpret the delta to determine whether to allow for increased accessof the GPS module 510 to make location intensive queries of the relevantinformational network in step 740. Less frequent queries of the networkprovide less accurate location information. More frequent queriesprovide for more accurate information and resulting more accurateturn-by-turn directions but at the cost of increased network bandwidthconsumption and drain on a battery (i.e., power component 385).

If the determination of the delta shows that the mobile device 300 isbecoming increasingly close to its final destination (or, alternatively,increasingly distant from its point of origin), the intelligentactivation module will, as noted, allow for increased access to thenetwork in step 750. If the delta is insignificant or does not meet apredetermined setting that will allow for increased, access, theintelligent activation module 520 will allow the GPS module 510 to querythe network in accordance with its previously determined frequency.

FIG. 8 reflects an exemplary operational setting whereby a user canpreprogram the intelligent activation module 520 (FIG. 5) to activatethe GPS module 510 (FIG. 5) for periodic location information (e.g.,every 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour or at whatever time period the usermight choose). This setting proves useful if the user recognizes theywill be on roads not requiring directions for long periods of timewhereby a user uses, for example, a 1 hour period for allowing the GPSmodule 510 to activate and check for location information.

In this predetermined setting, the user can pre-program the intelligentactivation module 520 to permit the GPS module 510 activation andsubsequent network access at periods to coincide with time of day (asmight be provided by the GSM network) or, in another example, distancetraveled (as might be provided by an onboard computer in a vehicle). Forinstance, if a user knows he will not be needing directions, at least,until 100 miles into their journey, the user can preprogram theintelligent activation module 520 to allow the GPS module 510 to make aGPS locality check only after a certain distance has been traveled orpassage of time has expired.

If the intelligent activation module 520, in conjunction with the GPSmodule 510, then recognizes that the vehicle and mobile device 300 (FIG.3) are approaching the final destination and that turn-by-turndirections will soon be necessary, the intelligent activation module 520will instruct, or permit, activation of the GPS module 510 that will, inturn, provide the necessary turn-by-turn directions. A determinationthat turn-by-turn directions will be, or presently are, necessary is anadditional predetermined setting that can be provided by the user (e.g.,provide turn-by-turn directions when within 30 miles of the finaldestination).

For example, and as reflected in FIG. 8, the user can preprogram theintelligent activation module 520 with certain predetermined settings instep 810. Thus, for example, the settings may allow the GPS module 510to activate and access the GSM/GPS network every 30 minutes and torecognize that turn-by-turn directions will be required when the mobiledevice 300 is within 25 miles of the final destination.

Upon the expiration of 30 minutes, that is, the occurrence of apredetermined setting in step 820, the intelligent activation module 520will allow the GPS module 510 to make a periodic location check in step830. If the location of the vehicle and mobile device 300 coincides witha predetermined setting as to when turn-by-turn directions will benecessary in step 840 (e.g., the vehicle and mobile device 300A arewithin 25 miles of the final destination), then the intelligentactivation module 520 will further allow the GPS module 510 to makeregular and unhindered queries of the relevant network to provide suchdirections in step 850.

Similar queries can be made with regard to distance traveled as may bedetermined by the GPS module 510 and intelligent activation module 520or as may be more directly reflected by on-board computer informationfrom the vehicle.

Referring now to FIG. 9, an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention is depicted whereby GPS resources are intelligently utilizedusing speed information. Activation of the GPS module 510 (FIG. 5) canbe made subject to the speed of the mobile device 300A (FIG. 3A)containing the GPS module 510. That is, a vehicle in which the mobiledevice 300A is located and its speed of travel can affect the regularityat which the GPS module 510 is activated or, alternatively, the time atwhich it is suppressed and prevented from accessing a GPS and/or GSMnetwork.

For example, if a vehicle is traveling at 70 miles per hour, it islikely that the vehicle (and the mobile device 300 traveling therein) istraveling on a highway 990 as is reflected in FIG. 9B. Highway travel,generally, will not require turn-by-turn directions as can be offered bythe GPS module 510 as the vehicle is traveling in a mostly direct routefrom point A to point B. As such, the intelligent activation module 520in the mobile device 300 can recognize a high speed of travel beingequivalent to highway driving, and make an intelligent determinationthat the user does not require continuous turn-by-turn directions or, atleast, providing of location and/or direction at a more sporadicinterval. Through the less regular activation of the GPS module 510,there is a resulting less drain on the battery (i.e., power component385) and network bandwidth resources.

A determination of speed can be made in a variety ways. In an exemplaryembodiment, the mobile device 300 containing the GPS module 510 caninterface directly with the vehicle through an on-board computing device920 providing information such as speed. This intelligent activationmodule 520, based on that speed information, makes a determination 930of when the GPS module 510 should be activated to make regular andresource intensive queries of the relevant GSM and/or GPS networks. Inthis instance, the determination 930 will be based on whether thevehicle and mobile device 300 are exceeding a certain speed equated tohighway travel therein reflecting the lack of a need for turn-by-turndirections 940 as would be offered through activation of the GPS module510.

In another embodiment, the GPS module 510 can be activated on apre-determined schedule or on some other dynamic basis, as might beprogrammed into the intelligent activation module 520, to make aquick-determination of location since the previous GPS module 510activation and locale determination to, in turn, allow for deduction ofdistance traveled and, based on time elapsed, the average speed fortraversing that distance. Based on that speed, the intelligentactivation module 520 will determine if regular queries to a GSM and/orGPS network are necessary for turn-by-turn directions.

For example, if the GPS module 510 is first activated 950 (e.g., at 1:00PM) and makes a determination that the mobile device 300 is at onelocale and, later, is re-activated 960 (e.g, at 2:00 PM) and determinesthe mobile device 300 to be at a second locale, the intelligentactivation module 520, through any variety of mathematical algorithmsfor measuring distance or, alternatively, acquiring such informationfrom, for example, a map database can determine that the distancebetween the two query points is 75 miles. As the mobile device 300traveled that 75 mile distance in one hour, the intelligent accessmodule 520 can then determine that the average speed 970 for the mobiledevice 300 is 75 miles per hour (75 miles/1 hour=75 miles per hour).Recognizing this speed to be indicative of highway travel 980, theintelligent activation module 520 will instruct the GPS module 510 thatturn-by-turn directions are not presently necessary thereby causing theGPS module 510 to shut down (or remain in that state) or to otherwiseenter a ‘sleep’ or ‘hibernation’ mode whereby the GPS module 510 willnot unnecessarily consume battery power or network bandwidth. If thespeed does not exceed a predetermined speed, then the intelligentactivation module 520 will permit activation of the GPS module 510 toprovide turn-by-turn directions 940.

The intelligent activation module 520, in this operational setting, canbe programmed with a variety of variables. For example, the speed to beequated with highway driving can be determined by the user 910. That is,the user can program the intelligent activation module 520 to equatetravel over a speed of 55 miles per hour with highway or some otherlocale of travel not requiring regular GPS module activation 520 andproviding of turn-by-turn directions.

The speed can be set to any speed as, for example, a driver might begenerally familiar with city streets in a certain area where the usermight travel at speeds of approximately 30-45 miles per hour. The user,however, might be unfamiliar with a certain neighborhood 995 where theuser would travel at a speed of only, for example 10-15 miles per hour.In this example, the user might preprogram the intelligent activationmodule 520 to only activate the GPS module 510 for turn-by-turndirections when the speed is not in excess of 15 miles per hour (thatis, the user is on unfamiliar neighborhood streets and requires detaileddirections).

In an alternative embodiment, the frequency at which queries are made bythe GPS module 510 can be made inverse to speed. That is, the slower avehicle travels, the more frequent the queries of the relevantinformation network.

All of the aforementioned settings and programming of the intelligentactivation module 520 can be achieved either by voice instruction,through keypad entry or via a remote terminal that subsequently providesmodule programming instructions via a wireless transmission.

The above-described embodiments are exemplary. One skilled in the artwill recognize and appreciate various applications of the disclosedinvention beyond those presently described here. This disclosure is notmeant to be limiting beyond those limitations as expressly provided inthe claims.

1. A method for regulating an amount of resources consumed by a mobilecommunications device, the method comprising: an intelligent activationmodule (IAM) of the mobile communications device receiving dataindicating a destination; the IAM receiving data defining a destinationbuffer; the IAM obtaining location information indicating a location ofthe mobile communications device; the IAM comparing the location of themobile communications device to the destination buffer; and the IAMexecuting an action if the mobile communications device is determined tobe within the destination buffer.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein theaction includes causing an output device of the mobile communicationsdevice to communicate turn-by-turn directions to a user of the mobilecommunications device.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein, in receivingthe data defining the destination buffer, the IAM receives buffer dataentered by a user of the mobile communications device, the buffer dataincluding a distance from the destination.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein, in receiving the data defining the destination buffer, the IAMreceives buffer data as a preference defining a destination bufferradius.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein, in receiving the datadefining the destination buffer, the IAM determines a destination bufferradius by analyzing information.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein theaction includes causing the mobile communications to obtain the locationinformation indicating the location of the mobile communications deviceat an increased frequency.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the actionincludes the IAM obtaining location position via communication with anode of an A-GPS network to obtain A-GPS location data.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein: the action is a first action; and the method furtherincludes the IAM executing a second action if the mobile communicationsdevice is determined to be outside of the destination buffer.
 9. Themethod of claim 8, wherein executing the second action includes the IAMcausing the mobile communications device to perform an act selected froma group of acts consisting of: ceasing communications with a node of theA-GPS network; and ceasing to provide turn-by-turn directions to a userof the mobile communications device.
 10. The method of claim 8, whereinexecuting the second action includes causing the mobile communicationsto obtain the location information indicating the location of the mobilecommunications device at a decreased frequency.
 11. A method forregulating an amount of resources consumed by a mobile communicationsdevice, the method comprising: an intelligent activation module (IAM) ofthe mobile communications device receiving data that indicates adestination; the IAM receiving data defining a speed limitation; the IAMobtaining speed information indicating a speed of the mobilecommunications device; the IAM comparing the speed of the mobilecommunications device to the the speed limitation; and the IAM executingan action if the speed of the mobile communications device is determinednot to exceed the speed limitation.
 12. The method of claim 11, whereinthe action includes an output device of the mobile communications devicecommunicating turn-by-turn directions to a user of the mobilecommunications device.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the actionincludes causing the mobile communications to obtain locationinformation indicating the location of the mobile communications deviceat an increased frequency.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein theaction includes the IAM obtaining location position by communication viaa node of an A-GPS network to obtain A-GPS location data.
 15. The methodof claim 11, wherein: the action is a first action; and the methodfurther includes the IAM executing a second action if the speed of themobile communications device is determined to exceed the speedlimitation.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein executing the secondaction includes the IAM causing the mobile communications device toperform an act selected from a group of acts consisting of: ceasingcommunications with a node of the A-GPS network; and ceasing to provideturn-by-turn directions to a user of the mobile communications device.17. The method of claim 15, wherein executing the second action includescausing the mobile communications to obtain the location informationindicating the location of the mobile communications device at andecreased frequency.
 18. A method for regulating an amount of resourcesconsumed by a mobile communications device, the method comprising: anintelligent activation module (IAM) of the mobile communications devicereceiving data indicating an intermediate destination between an originand a final destination; the IAM receiving data defining an intermediatebuffer corresponding to the intermediate destination; the IAM obtaininglocation information indicating a location of the mobile communicationsdevice; the IAM comparing the location of the mobile communicationsdevice to the intermediate buffer; and the IAM executing an action ifthe mobile communications device is determined to be within theintermediate buffer.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein: the action isa first action; and the method further includes the IAM executing asecond action if the speed of the mobile communications device isdetermined to be outside of the intermediate buffer.